Around the Westside for June 29, 2011

Plaquemine sets events for July 4th

Plaquemine will host its 11th July 4th Celebration on Monday with free, family activities at Bayou Water Front Park, the Plaquemine Locks and the Iberville Museum.

The museum will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. for patriotic games, children’s art and other activities.

The Plaquemine Locks State Historic Site will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with tours of the Lock House and Boat Pavilion and a boat motor demonstration by the Old Engine Boat Club from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A boat parade will start at 4:15 p.m. departing from the Bayou Plaquemine Boat Launch near the parish jail on Bayou Road. Boaters are advised to show up at 4 p.m.

There will be space walks, face painting, and rides starting at 5 p.m. in the park. Live music will start at 6 p.m. with a dance contest at 7 p.m.

A fireworks show will start at 9 p.m. The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs. No ice chests will be allowed.

Call (225) 687-3116 for more information.

Swamp people and boats

The 29th annual False River Fourth of July Boat Parade will begin at 1 p.m. July 4.

This year’s theme is “Swamp People.”

Judging of decorated piers will begin at 11 a.m.

The judging of decorated watercraft and party barges begins at noon at Marc Barker’s two-story, octagonal pier on the south, island side of False River near the Pointe Placid Condos in Jarreau.

Fourth of July in WBR

West Baton Rouge Parish will hold the Sixth annual Westside July 4th Fest from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday at the Riverfront in Port Allen.

There will be live music, face painting, food, beverages, a space walk, clowns, a magician and fireworks.

No ice chests are allowed.

New Roads rhythms

New Roads Mayor Robert Myer said the city will host River Rhythmz Fest from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday along Morrison Parkway.

Five bands will perform throughout the day and there will be food and beverage concessions.

Farm rock in WBR

The West Baton Rouge Parish Library will hold “Down on the Farm with Farmer Jason,” a concert of punk rock and country music.

There will be two performances on July 6.

The Tennessee farmer’s music will entertain and educate families about forest ecology and animals.

The first show will be held at 10 a.m. at the West Baton Rouge Parish Library. The encore will be held at 1 p.m. at the Addis Community Center.

WBR’s vanished town

The West Baton Rouge Museum will host an exhibit celebrating “Morley, the Vanished Lumber Town” starting Friday and running through Oct. 16.

H.T. Morley, the eldest son of a wealthy Michigan family, arrived in West Baton Rouge in 1907 and created a lumber town in the swamps in the southern part of the parish.

But the community didn’t last long because the trees needed to maintain the lumber mill were quickly depleted and residents moved out.